Ride Profile
www.parkworld-online.com
Cooking up an immersive experience
As Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at Epcot turns one, Park World’s Susan Storey explores the big wide world of Little Chef.
W
oWalt Disney famously said, “I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing – that it all started with
a mouse.” And while he was referring to the ubiquitous Mickey Mouse, a small French rat moved into Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort last year and has continued the tradition of bringing animated joy from screen to real life. Celebrating its first anniversary on October 1,
Remy's Ratatouille Adventure – located within the France Pavilion in the park’s World Showcase – has quickly become a favourite with fans of the beloved Ratatouille movie and the theme park’s guests. In 2014, guests of Disneyland Paris first entered
Remy’s rat world with the debut of the attraction and since that time, thousands have experienced a day in the life as Little Chef. Bringing Remy to Epcot was a natural next step for The Disney Company, and the Florida park. When asked to compare the two attractions, Matt
Beiler, senior producer at Walt Disney Imagineering, confirmed fans of the Paris park’s attraction will be delighted that the new ride offers the same whimsical nature and experience they have come to know and love.
42 And while the attraction itself mirrors its sister in
France, the Imagineering team was presented with the unique opportunity to introduce it in Epcot in a manner that would seamlessly transition guests from the realistic, immersive experience the France Pavilion is known for, to the unique – and enormous – Paris that makes up Remy’s world. “Epcot’s World Showcase is a celebration of each
country’s art, music, food, culture, and architecture. That is what makes it so amazing,” Beiler shared, “We have been telling the stories of these countries since Epcot opened, and the countries themselves have inspired new stories along the way. It’s the reason we added a Frozen-themed attraction in Norway, and why this attraction is now in France. The country itself inspired the original story our Disney Pixar animators created. That led to bringing an attraction to our park in Paris. Both further inspired us to share the story and experience with the World Showcase. It is the perfect complement and addition to the park.” “Our guests love the stories they see in our films,
and they want to be a part of them,” he continued. “With Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, you can escape for a bit and actually journey with Remy.”
A key element, subtle at first and later central to
the attraction’s story, is reducing guests to Remy’s size. Through theming and creative set design they become part of Little Chef’s life – scurrying through and exploring Paris, and visiting memorable scenes from the original movie. “To ensure you feel fully immersed in this story,
we shrink you down,” described Beiler. “The 3D visuals are large and colourful, so your line-of-sight mimics that of Remy and his friends. There is even a large ham, weighing hundreds of pounds, which hangs above your head, visible and looming as you enter the pantry. Details like that are what fully bring the experience to life. “The movie Ratatouille is not only Remy’s story; it
is also a love letter to the food of France. And the attraction reminds guests of this, filled with scents to accompany the sights. From the clean, citrus-y smell of oranges to the pleasing, buttery-baked smell of homemade ratatouille, guests follow their nose along with Remy throughout the entire attraction.” In addition, the trackless vehicle itself gives
proverbial paws to everyone, allowing them to scurry back and forth and even side to side like a rat exploring its surroundings and running from
OCTOBER 2022
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
